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income. What Alinor made from the fishing trade in Roselynde and Mersea only Alinor knew, and the ships often carried more than fish. Simon had brought back enormous loot from the Crusades and had made enormous profits from his office as sheriff of Sussex. As taxes rose, Alinor increased her demands on her people, but not enough to ruin them. She and Simon knew what John was like. They had been prepared for lean years. |
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If the leader of the reavers was wreaking his spite on one whom he believed to be a favorite of the king, it might be possible to turn the man from his purpose. The more Ian saw of his work, the more he respected the common sense and ability of the leader of the outlaws. Considering the situation, he kept his men under good control, Ian thought. Looting was to be expected, since that was the purpose of the raids, but wanton burning was minimal and, Ian had discovered, the women who had been carried off were either widows or whores. Very interesting. Rape, too, was minimal, largely confined to the wives and daughters of the bailiffs. Spite showed there; a special kind of spite. Ian could only hope that the iron had not bit too deep into the outlaw leader's soul. |
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Ian directed 20 men-at-arms from Roselynde Keep and ten of his northerners to take cover around the burned-out farmstead. Other groups had been deployed at various positions all along the boundaries of the lands, but Ian had decided to take this position in person because he did not believe the man who led the reavers would permit resistance to defeat him. He would be back for the cattle he had not previously been able to take. |
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In a nearby serf's hut, Ian gathered the remainder of his troop, ten wiry Welshmen with long hair bound back by leather thongs and odd, very long quivers strapped to their backs. Short swords hung from their belts, but as Ian explained what he wanted them to do |
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